Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs
Gillian Martin was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs in May 2026.
Responsibilities
Climate Action
- cross government co-ordination of Net Zero policy
- climate crisis and environmental protection
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- environmental and climate justice and international climate change
- environmental quality
- sustainable development
- flood prevention and coastal erosion
- drinking water quality and regulator, Scottish Water, private water, hydronation
- circular economy
- Emissions Trading Schemes
- deposit return, waste issues, Zero Waste Scotland
- Green Growth Accelerator
- nature recovery targets and NatureScot
- biodiversity and endangered species
Rural
- rural policy and strategy
- land reform and land use
- natural resources and peatland
- national parks and natural heritage
- Scottish Land Commission
- Crown Estate Scotland
- Royal Botanic Gardens
Supporting Ministers
Biography
Gillian Martin grew up in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire. Prior to her role as an MSP, she lectured in Television Production at North East Scotland College and ran her own video production company. She also designed safety courses for the energy industry and was the manager of an emergency media response team for companies operating in the North Sea for 10 years.
Ms Martin was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament to represent Aberdeenshire East in 2016. She was appointed as Minister for Energy and the Environment in March 2023, and Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work in February 2024. In May 2024 she was appointed as Minister for Climate Action. In July 2024, Ms Martin was appointed as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in July 2024 for the duration of Màiri McAllan's maternity leave. In June 2025, she was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy.
- Read more about Gillian Martin on the Scottish Parliament website.